Electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus comprises a power receiving unit configured to receive electric power transmitted from a power transmitting apparatus in a non-contact manner, and charge a battery that powers the electronic apparatus with the electric power; a temperature monitor configured to change output according to temperature; and a charge controller configured to instruct the power receiving unit to execute charge control of the battery based on the output of the temperature monitor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. P2015-223957, filed Nov. 16, 2015, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatusand associated methods.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a charge operation without the need of terminalconnection (non-contact charge) is executed to an electronic apparatusin which a battery is built. A power transmitting apparatus isgeneral-purpose for various electronic apparatuses as a power receivingside is not dedicated to one specific power receiving apparatus. In sucha power transmitting apparatus, there is a device used to monitortemperature and stop power transmission if necessary in order to preventdamage or an accident caused by overheating at the time of charging.

The electronic apparatus serving as the power receiving side charges thebattery with electric power received from the power transmittingapparatus; however, there is a limit to the capability for convertingthe received electric power to power for charge (conversion capability).If excessive electric power exceeding the conversion capability istransmitted from the power transmitting apparatus, the surplus electricpower is converted to heat. If the electronic apparatus continues togenerate the heat, there is also a case in which the electronicapparatus undesirably burns a user. Further, there is a case in whichthe power transmitting apparatus enters a power transmission stop stateas the heat of the electronic apparatus conducts to the powertransmitting apparatus.

As the charge of the electronic apparatus is executed in a period oftime (e.g., night time) in which the electronic apparatus is not used,there are many cases in which there is no person who pays attention tothe electronic apparatus, for example, there is no person around theelectronic apparatus. In such a situation, if the power transmissionfrom the power transmitting apparatus is stopped due to overheating, afailure that the charge is not completed in a scheduled time occurs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating appearances of a portableprinter and a charge stand according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the portableprinter and the charge stand;

FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating modules included in a controlsection;

FIG. 4-1 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a charge controlprocessing; and

FIG. 4-2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the charge controlprocessing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises apower receiving unit, a temperature monitor or measuring section and acharge controller. The power receiving unit receives electric powertransmitted from a power transmitting apparatus in a non-contact manner,and charges a battery within the electronic apparatus with the electricpower. The temperature monitor measures temperature and changes outputaccording to temperature. The charge controller instructs the powerreceiving unit to execute charge control of the battery based on theoutput of the temperature monitor.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of charging anelectronic apparatus involves transmitting electric power from a powertransmitting apparatus in a non-contact manner to a power receiving unitof the electronic apparatus to charge a battery that powers theelectronic apparatus with the electric power; changing output accordingto temperature; and executing charge control of the battery based on theoutput.

First Embodiment

The present embodiment is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating appearances of aportable printer 1 and a charge stand 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagramillustrating configurations of the portable printer 1 and the chargestand 2.

The portable printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer) 1 isa small printer easy to carry. The printer 1 is an example of anelectronic apparatus, and the charge stand 2 is an example of the powertransmitting apparatus. Other examples of electronic apparatuses includea projector, scanner, copier, facsimile device, display device, and thelike. The charge stand 2 transmits the electric power to the printer 1.The printer 1 receives the electric power transmitted from the chargestand 2 and charges a battery 128 with the electric power.

The charge stand 2, as shown in FIG. 1, is equipped with a main body 21and a power supply cord 22 for supplying power to the main body 21. Thecharge stand 2 is equipped with a power transmitting device 23 in themain body 21, as shown in FIG. 2. The power transmitting device 23transmits the electric power to the printer 1. The power transmissionand reception from the charge stand 2 to the printer 1 is carried outwithout a physical, conductive connection terminal. In other words, theprinter 1 carries out a so-called non-contact charge. In the non-contactpower supply from the charge stand 2 to the printer 1, a well-knowntechnology (for example, including an electromagnetic induction methodand a magnetic field resonance method) is used.

The printer 1 is equipped with a casing 10 composed of a main bodysection 11 and a lid 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The main body section 11 isa box-type container a part of which is opened. The lid 12 is mounted inthe main body section 11 with one end part rotatable, and closes andopens an opening of the main body section 11 through rotation. Anissuing port 10 a is arranged between a rotation end of the lid 12 andthe main body section 11 in a state in which the lid 12 closes theopening of the main body section 11.

The printer 1 is equipped with a main substrate 101 and an optionsubstrate 102 inside the casing 10, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the main substrate 101, a CPU 111, an FROM 112, a RAM 113, a displaycontrol circuit 121, a motor control circuit 122, a head control circuit123, a I/O port 124, a communication interface (I/F) 125, a power supplycontrol section 126 and a DC jack 127 are arranged. The battery 128 isconnected with the power supply control section 126.

In the option substrate 102, a power receiving device 131, an A/Dconverter 132 and a thermistor 133 are arranged.

The FROM (Flash ROM (Read Only Memory)) 112 stores various programsexecuted by the CPU 111. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 113 storesvariable data in a rewritable manner and is used as a working area.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 functions as various modules tocollectively control each section constituting the printer 1 throughcopying or decompressing programs stored in the FROM 112 on the RAM 113to execute the programs.

The display control circuit 121 controls an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)141 according to the control of the CPU 111. The LCD 141 is arranged insuch a manner that a display surface thereof faces the outer surface ofthe main body section 11 and is an example of a display section fordisplaying characters and images.

The motor control circuit 122 controls a stepping motor 142. The headcontrol circuit 123 controls a thermal head 143. The stepping motor 142rotates a platen roller (not shown). The thermal head 143 and the platenroller constitute a printing section used to carry out printing on asheet. The platen roller and the thermal head 143 sandwich a sheetserving as a printing object therebetween and conveys the sheet throughrotation. The thermal head 143 is equipped with a plurality of heatingelements (not shown), and prints on a sheet through the heating by theheating element.

The thermal head 143 is arranged in the main body section 11, and theplaten roller is arranged at the lid 12. When the lid 12 is located at aposition where the lid 12 opens the opening of the main body section 11,the platen roller is positioned away from the thermal head 143. When thelid 12 is located at a position where the lid 12 closes the opening ofthe main body section 11, the platen roller contacts the thermal head143.

The I/O port 124 inputs output from a key 151 to the CPU 111, andtransmits a control signal from the CPU 111 to the LED 152. The key 151and the LED 152 are arranged on the outer surface of the main bodysection 11. The key 151 is an example of an operation section forreceiving operation input from a user of the printer 1. The LED (LightEmitting Diode) 152 is an example of an informing section for informingvarious kinds of information such as a status of the printer 1 to theuser of the printer 1.

The I/O port 124 transmits output from various detecting sectionsincluding, for example, a sheet detecting sensor 161, a head opening andclosing sensor 162 and a head temperature sensor 163 to the CPU 111. Thesheet detecting sensor 161 detects the sheet between the thermal head143 and the platen roller. The head opening and closing sensor 162detects that the thermal head 143 contacts the platen roller, in otherwords, the lid 12 closes the opening of the main body section 11. Thehead temperature sensor 163 detects the temperature of the thermal head143.

The communication I/F 125 is a communication unit for executing neardistance wireless communication with an NFC (Near Field Communication)corresponding device. The printer 1 according to the present embodimentcommunicates with, via the communication I/F 125, an external device(not shown) such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) device, a smartphone or a PC (Personal Computer). The communication I/F 125communicates the status of the printer 1 to the external device, andreceives print data to be printed by the printer 1 from the externaldevice.

The power supply control section 126 selects and switches an acquiringsource of the electric power used by each section of the main substrate101 according to the status. As the acquiring source of the electricpower, there is the electric power received from an AC adapter 103 viathe DC jack 127 and the battery 128. The printer 1 operates through theelectric power supplied via the power supply control section 126.

The battery 128 is charged through the electric power received from thepower receiving device 131. The battery (rechargeable battery, storagebattery or secondary battery) 128 is a battery capable of storingelectricity through charge, and is, for example, a lithium-ion batteryor nickel cadmium battery.

The option substrate 102 does not receive the power supplied from themain substrate 101. The power receiving device 131 which is an exampleof the power receiving section contains a coil (or an antenna), arectifier and the like, for example. The power receiving device 131receives the electric power transmitted from the power transmittingdevice 23 of the charge stand 2 in a non-contact manner, and charges thebattery 128 with the electric power.

The thermistor 133 receives the power supplied from the power receivingdevice 131, and changes output according to the temperature. Thethermistor 133 is an example of a temperature monitor for measuring thetemperature of the electronic apparatus. The thermistor 133 is arrangednearby the power receiving device 131 and the battery 128 in order toeasily detect the generation of the heat.

The A/D converter 132 converts the output (analog value) of thethermistor 133 to a digital value. The output of the thermistor 133 istransmitted to the CPU 111 after passing through a path composed by theA/D converter 132, the power receiving device 131, the battery 128 andthe power supply control section 126.

FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating modules included in the controlsection 110. The CPU 111, the FROM 112 and the RAM 113 constitute thecontrol section 110. The control section 110 is equipped with a chargecontroller 1101. The charge controller 1101 is a module generatedthrough the execution of the programs stored in the FROM 112 by the CPU111.

The control section 110 at the time of functioning as the chargecontroller 1101 executes processing the flow of which is illustrated inthe flowcharts in FIG. 4-1 and FIG. 4-2. The processing is a chargecontrol processing.

As an example of the charge control processing, three variablesincluding an initial value α (degrees centigrade), a latest value β(degrees centigrade) and a previous value γ (degrees centigrade) areused. Additional variables can be used. Each variable stores a valuecalculated from the output of the thermistor 133 as the measured value(temperature measuring value) of the temperature. The initial value αstores the original temperature measuring value at the time of startingthe charge. The latest value β stores the temperature measuring value inthe charge process. The previous value γ stores a value just before thelatest value β is updated, and is a variable for saving (storage). Thelatest value β is updated at any time in the charge control processing,and the previous value γ is updated according to the latest value βbefore updating prior to the updating of the latest value β.

In the charge control processing, first, the control section 110 carriesout the charge for a certain time (ACT S1). In other words, the controlsection 110 enables the power receiving device 131 to operate. The powerreceiving device 131 receives the electric power transmitted from thepower transmitting device 23, and executes the charge of the battery 128and the power supply to the thermistor 133.

The foregoing “a certain time” refers to a sufficient time necessary forthe thermistor 133 to transmit the proper output to the CPU 111. Thecontrol section 110 calculates the temperature measuring value from theoutput of the thermistor 133 after a certain time elapses from the startof the charge and enables the initial value α to store the temperaturemeasuring value (ACT S2). As the value supposed to be the latest value βat this time point is the value of the initial value α, the controlsection 110 continues the processing in ACT S2 to update (overwrite) thelatest value β with the initial value α.

Next, the control section 110 determines whether or not the initialvalue α is equal to or lower than the temperature (a first thresholdvalue: e.g., 60 degrees centigrade) set as a reference (ACT S3). If itis determined that the initial value α is equal to or lower than thefirst threshold value, the control section 110 continues the processing.Herein, the first threshold value is a temperature appropriate to forgothe charge continuation due to too high temperature for the execution ofthe charge.

The control section 110 saves the previous measured value (ACT S4) priorto the measurement of the latest temperature (ACT S5). In other words,the previous value γ is updated with the value stored in the latestvalue α.

The control section 110 calculates the temperature measuring value fromthe output of the thermistor 133 to update the latest value β (ACT S5).

Then, the control section 110 monitors whether or not the charge iscompleted (ACT S6), and if the charge is completed (Yes in ACT S6),terminates the charge.

In ACT S6, the control section 110 repeats the monitoring about whetheror not the charge is completed at a predetermined timing until thecharge is completed (No in ACT S6). At the time of monitoring, if thecharge is not completed (No in ACT S6), the control section 110 proceedsto the processing in ACT S11.

In ACT S11, the control section 110 determines whether or not the latestvalue β (degrees centigrade) is equal to or lower than, for example, 60degrees centigrade (the first threshold value). If it is determined thatthe latest value β is equal to or lower than 60 degrees centigrade (Yesin ACT S11), the control section 110 further determines whether or not arange of the rising (rising range) of the temperature from the initialvalue α at a temperature measuring time point of the latest value β iswithin 30 degrees centigrade (ACT S12). Herein, the foregoing 30 degreescentigrade is an example of a threshold value (a second threshold value)within a range available to the temperature rising from the initialvalue α.

In ACT S12, if it is determined that the difference between β and α isequal to or lower than 30 degrees centigrade (Yes in ACT S12), thecontrol section 110 further determines whether or not the range of thetemperature rising from the previous value γ at the measuring time pointof the latest value β is equal to or lower than 2 degrees centigrade(ACT S13). Herein, the foregoing 2 degrees centigrade is an example of athreshold value (a third threshold value) within a range available tothe temperature rising from the previous value γ.

In ACT S13, if it is determined that the difference between β and γ isequal to or lower than 2 degrees centigrade (Yes in ACT S13), thecontrol section 110 returns to the processing in ACT S4.

In ACT S13, the range of the temperature rising from the previous valueγ at the measuring time point of the latest value β is higher than 2degrees centigrade (third threshold value) (No in ACT S13), for example,as there is a concern about a sudden temperature rising, the controlsection 110 carries out notification for calling attention of a user(ACT S14). In ACT S14, the control section 110, specifically, enablesthe LCD 141 to display that it is in a state where there is a concernabout the sudden temperature rising and communicates that state to thepredetermined external device via the communication I/F 125. Further,the display message, for example, may contain contents for notifyingthat charge efficiency is not good, or contain contents for promotingthe change of positions to the charge stand 2 of the printer 1 servingas the power receiving apparatus.

In ACT S11, if the latest value β is higher than 60 degrees centigrade(No in ACT S11), or in ACT S12, the range of the temperature rising fromthe initial value α at the temperature measuring time point of thelatest value β exceeds 30 degrees centigrade (No in ACT S12), thecontrol section 110 proceeds to the processing in ACT S21. In ACT S21,the control section 110 temporarily stops the charge. In particular, thecontrol section 110 instructs the power receiving device 131 to stop theoperation. As the generation of the heat is stopped along with the stopof the power receiving device 131, the temperature is graduallydecreased.

Next, the control section 110 displays a message indicating that thecharge is stopped (ACT S22). The message display is carried out byeither or both of the LCD 141 and the external device communicablethrough the communication I/F. Furthermore, the status of stopping thecharge may be displayed by the LED 152.

The control section 110 carries out the charge for a certain time (ACTS24) and acquires the output of the thermistor 133 to calculate thelatest value β (ACT S25) every time the control section 110 waits for apredetermined time from the stop of the charge (ACT S23).

In ACT S26, the control section 110 determines whether or not thetemperature is sufficiently low (ACT S26). The determination is carriedout according to whether or not the latest value β meets two conditions.The first condition is whether or not the latest value β is equal to orlower than the first threshold value. The second condition is whether ornot the difference between the latest value β and the initial value α isequal to or lower than a fourth threshold value. Herein, the foregoingfourth threshold value is, for example, 25 degrees centigrade lower thanthe second threshold value (30 degrees centigrade). If the twoconditions are met (Yes in ACT S26), the control section 110 regardsthat the temperature is sufficiently reduced, and restarts the charge(ACT S27).

If the charge is restarted, the control section 110 switches the messagedisplay indicating the stop of the charge executed in the processing inACT S22 to the message display indicating that the charge is executed(ACT S28), and then returns to the processing in ACT S4.

At the time of determination in ACT S26, in a case in which thetemperature is not sufficiently low (No in ACT S26), the control section110 returns to the processing in ACT S23 and further stands by.

In ACT S3, if the initial value α is higher than the first thresholdvalue (60 degrees centigrade) (No in ACT S3), the control section 110stops the charge (ACT S31). Continuously, the control section 110displays a message indicating the charge is stopped (ACT S32) similar tothe processing in ACT S22. Then, the control section 110 returns to theprocessing in ACT S1 after waiting for a certain time (ACT S33).

In this way, according to the present embodiment, the temperature at theinitial time and the temperature in the charge, further the temperaturerising situation are monitored, and if there is abnormality, the chargeis temporarily stopped. Further, according to the present embodiment,the decrease of the temperature during the stop of the charge is alsomonitored, and if the status becomes good, the charge is automaticallyrestarted. In this way, the charge can be properly completed withoutabnormally terminating the charge due to the generation of the heat.

Further, as the portable printer 1 operates through the battery 128, itis unfavorable to consume the electric power of the battery 128 otherthan the main operation as the printer such as printing. According tothe present embodiment, as a route for supplying power from the battery128 to the power receiving device 131 is not arranged, the electricpower held by the battery 128 is not consumed in the operation of thethermistor 133. Thus, there is no inconvenience that the durability ofthe battery 128 is damaged by the thermistor 133.

Further, in the present embodiment, focusing on that the temperaturemeasurement by the thermistor 133 is limited to the charge process, thethermistor 133 is operated through the power supply from the powerreceiving device 131. In this way, even if the power is not suppliedfrom the battery 128 to the power receiving device 131, the failure doesnot occur, and the thermistor 133 can operate.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first threshold value is set to,for example, 60 degrees centigrade, the second threshold value is setto, for example, 30 degrees centigrade, the third threshold value is setto, for example, 2 degrees centigrade, and the fourth threshold value isset to, for example, 25 degrees centigrade; however, it is needless tosay that theses temperatures in the embodiment may be changed tosuitable values.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the processing along with thedetermination of the temperature, the stop of the charge and thenotification for calling attention of the user are exemplified. Then, astemperature determination, the initial temperature α, the latesttemperature β, the situation of the rising of β from α, and thesituation of the rising of β from the previous temperature γ aremonitored. In the embodiment, the combination of the determination ofthe temperature and the processing along with the determination of thetemperature may not be same as that in the present embodiment, or may beany combination. In other words, for example, that the latesttemperature β exceeds the first threshold value may be set as acondition to carry out notification for calling the attention of theuser.

The programs executed by the printer 1 of the present embodiment may beincorporated into the FROM 112 to be supplied.

The programs executed by the printer 1 of the present embodiment may berecorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a FD(flexible disk), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) as a file of aninstallable form or an executable form to be supplied.

The programs executed by the printer 1 of the present embodiment may bestored in a computer connected to a network such as an internet or beprovided by being downloaded via the network. The program executed bythe printer 1 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributedvia the network such as the internet.

The programs executed by the printer 1 of the present embodiment hasmodule configuration including the above-described each section (forexample, the charge control section 1101). The CPU 111 (processor) readsthe programs from the storage medium to execute them to load theforegoing each section on the main storage device. In this way, variousmodules (for example, the charge control section 1101) are generated onthe main storage device.

With respect to any figure or numerical range for a givencharacteristic, a figure or a parameter from one range may be combinedwith another figure or a parameter from a different range for the samecharacteristic to generate a numerical range.

Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, allnumbers, values and/or expressions referring to quantities,temperatures, etc., used in the specification and claims are to beunderstood as modified in all instances by the term “about.”

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended tocover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus, comprising: a powerreceiving device configured to receive electric power transmitted from apower transmitting apparatus in a non-contact manner, and charge abattery that powers the electronic apparatus with the electric power; atemperature monitor configured to change an output according totemperature; and a charge controller configured to instruct the powerreceiving device to execute charge control of the battery based on theoutput of the temperature monitor, wherein the power receiving device isconfigured to contain at least a coil or an antenna, and a rectifier,and the charge controller carries out notification prompting a user tochange a position of the electronic apparatus with respect to the powertransmitting apparatus if the temperature rises by more than apredetermined threshold value within a predetermined time period whilecharging.
 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thetemperature monitor operates by using the electric power received by thepower receiving device.
 3. The electronic apparatus according to claim1, further comprising a communication section configured to communicatewith an external device, wherein the charge controller carries outnotification to the external device.
 4. A method of charging anelectronic apparatus, comprising: receiving, by the electronicapparatus, electric power transmitted from a power transmittingapparatus in a non-contact manner to charge a battery that powers theelectronic apparatus with the electric power; changing an outputaccording to temperature; and executing charge control of the batterybased on the output, wherein the execution of the charge control carriesout notification prompting a user to change a position of the electronicapparatus with respect to the power transmitting apparatus if thetemperature rises by more than a predetermined threshold value within apredetermined time period while changing.
 5. The method according toclaim 4, further comprising communicating with an external device. 6.The method according to claim 4, wherein the output comprises threevariables including an initial value α corresponding to an originaltemperature measuring value at the time of starting charging, a latestvalue β corresponding to a temperature measuring value during charging,and a previous value γ corresponding to a value immediately before thelatest value β is updated.
 7. The method according to claim 6, whereinexecuting charge control comprises monitoring whether charging iscompleted, and if the charging is completed, terminating charging. 8.The method according to claim 6, wherein executing charge controlcomprises determining if charging is not completed, and if the chargingis not completed, continuing the charging.
 9. The method according toclaim 6, further comprising determining whether or not the latest valueβ is equal to or lower than a first threshold value.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising determining whether the latestvalue β is equal to or lower than a first threshold value, and furtherdetermining whether a difference between the latest value β and theinitial value α is less than or equal to a second threshold value. 11.The method according to claim 6, further comprising determining whethera difference between β and α is equal to or lower than a secondthreshold value, and further determining whether a difference betweenthe latest value β and the previous value γ is less than or equal to athird threshold value.
 12. The method according to claim 6, furthercomprising determining whether a difference between the latest value βand the previous value γ is higher than a third threshold value.
 13. Anelectronic apparatus, comprising: a power receiving device configured toreceive electric power transmitted from a power transmitting apparatusin a non-contact manner, and charge a battery that powers the electronicapparatus with the electric power; a temperature monitor configured tochange an output according to temperature; and a charge controllerconfigured to instruct the power receiving device to execute chargecontrol of the battery based on the output of the temperature monitor,wherein the power receiving device is configured to contain at least acoil or an antenna, and a rectifier, and the output comprises threevariables including an initial variable α corresponding to an originaltemperature measuring value at a time of starting charging, a latestvalue β corresponding to a temperature measuring value during charging,and a previous value γ corresponding to a value immediately before thelatest value β is updated.